Whose your momma?

Carville, Matalin highlight HOF ceremony

As James Carville said in his talk to the Louisiana women in government, instead of Union, Justice and Confidence being the words to live by…it should have been Whose your momma? He said, “my momma always made things happen.”

He went on to say that we can’t turn our backs on the kids coming up in school. “If you want to get something done you’ve got to make the noise, you gotta get on those politicians like gravy on rice.”

Carville thinks the problems we have are solvable. We should think about what we can do and the good things going on in the young people here should be concentrated upon. For every hour we complain about our weaknesses, we should concentrate 15 minutes on our strengths. He said he is glad to be living in New Orleans and doesn’t know why it took them ( Mary Matalin and 2 children) so long to move here. He thinks Louisianians should talk about the benefits of their diversity. He doesn’t want to live in a place where everyone is alike.

He asked, “is there a better place in the world to live than in Louisiana? We have our own culture with religious diversity and racial diversity and I like that; strong family structure, best resources, best architectural structures, and the strongest women. We can develop things here in Louisiana. The young women can see what can be done by other women here it is essential to have good role models.”

He said there are also the people who do nothing…and that’s a choice in life.

Mary Matalin acknowledged the women of the storm as a group of women who got out and did something. She said there are women who teach prisoners to read. She thought helping everyone was in the Carville gene because of Jameses two sisters who don’t stop helping others…but it’s a gene across the state because women here do everything and she understands why they want to stay here.

Women of Louisiana are very giving and generous in their private lives. She thinks the greatest prediction of what will happen to the child has to do with the education of the mother. Girls need good role models so other choices in their lives can be made and they don’t have to think that unwed pregnancy is a good choice.

James Carville said he told his daughter that he wanted her to be good. She quipped, “I’ll be good if you give me a dollar.” He quipped back, “ Why can’t you be good for nothin like your poppa?”

The 2009 honorees inducted into the Louisiana Center for Women and Government Hall of Fame were: Rosemary Ewing, who was the first female board chairman of Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services Inc. She served as chair of Lincoln Parish American Heart Walk; president of the Louisiana Legislative Wives Auxiliary; board member of the Louisiana Council on Child Abuse; and advisory board member the the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Phyllis Mayo was the first woman elected to the Alexandria City Council; served on the state central and executive committees of the Louisiana Democratic Party. During the 1990’s was named to the board of directors for Utility Communicators International and later chaired the statewide Task Force on Retirement Development. More recently, she served as special assistant to the governor on women’s policy, organizing the first Gathering of Louisiana Women Leaders.

Ann Milling’s leadership credentials and experience include government, civic and corporate board positions. Best known as founder of Women of the Storm, she has also served as chair of the Bureau of Governmental Research and president pro tempore of the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans. Currently a board member of the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Emeril Lagasse Foundation as well as an advisory board member for Entergy New Orleans, Milling has won awards including the Catholic Foundation’s Pope John Paul II Award and the Times-Picayune Lovin g Cup.

LilyB Moskal, via her company Success Seminars, has for several years conducted motivational leadership workshops for women and men interested in public service. Her extensive list of speaking clients includes Toastmasters International, Chevron, the National Association of Realtors and National Federation of Republican Women. A certified speaking professional from the National Speakers Association, Moskal began her community work after World War II with the American Red Cross.

Cherry Fisher May won the 2009 Blue Ribbon Award. Her three decades in media and publishing management guides her Independent Weekly Publication in Lafayette along with her husband, co-publisher Steve May. They use hardnosed political reporting, intensely local business reporting, and sophisticated lifestyle and entertainment coverage that includes the occasional fashion spread. Their newspaper reflects the independent and local management of content that has won numerous awards from the Louisiana Press Association and the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Mildred Fossier won the Lifetime Achievement Award. As a debutante who graduated from Newcomb College in Uptown New Orleans, Mildred Fossier has devoted her life to public service. In the early 60’s she was the first woman to hold the position of director in New Orleans city government; of the welfare department first and then of the Parks and Parkways Commission. She hired and promoted women of all ethnic persuasions helping to achieve racial integration of state agencies.

Fossier has many achievements in conservation and environmental activism, and has received official commendations from five mayors of her native city and the Louisiana Legislature. She is still an active member of the League of Women Voters and the Alliance for Affordable Energy.